Compare the2025 Toyota Rav4VS 2026 Kia Sportage

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The Toyota Rav4 has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Sportage doesn’t offer knee airbags.

With its standard Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, the Toyota Rav4 is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Kia Sportage, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

	Rav4	Sportage
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Crossing Child - DAY
12 MPH	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
	Crossing Adult - NIGHT
12 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
12 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
	Parallel Adult - NIGHT
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
37 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-23 MPH
Warning Issued-Brights	1.8 sec	1.7 sec

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Toyota Rav4 achieved a “Acceptable” rating - the second highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Kia Sportage has not been tested.

The Rav4 has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Sportage doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Both the Rav4 and the Sportage have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Toyota Rav4 is safer than the Kia Sportage:

	Rav4	Sportage
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	284	307
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.4 inches
Neck Compression	95 lbs.	115 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH, results indicate that the Toyota Rav4 is safer than the Kia Sportage:

	Rav4	Sportage
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	138 lbs.	162 lbs.
Hip Force	246 lbs.	247 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	508 lbs.	581 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

The Rav4’s 5 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Sportage runs out after 100,000 miles.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Rav4 for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Kia doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Sportage.

There are over 55 percent more Toyota dealers than there are Kia dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Rav4’s warranty.

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Rav4’s reliability 19 points higher than the Sportage.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles, Kia is ranked 11th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota third in overall reliability. Kia is ranked 9th.

Engine

The Rav4’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 16 more horsepower (203 vs. 187) and 6 lbs.-ft. more torque (184 vs. 178) than the Sportage’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Toyota Rav4 is faster than the Kia Sportage:

	Rav4	Sportage
Zero to 30 MPH	3.1 sec	3.5 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	8.3 sec	10 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	4.5 sec	6.3 sec
Quarter Mile	16.5 sec	17.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	88 MPH	83 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Rav4 gets better mileage than the Sportage:

			MPG
Rav4
	FWD	XLE 2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	27 city/34 hwy
		LE/Limited 2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	27 city/35 hwy
	AWD	LE 2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	27 city/34 hwy
		XLE 2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	27 city/33 hwy
		Limited 2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	25 city/33 hwy
Sportage
	FWD	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	25 city/33 hwy
	AWD	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	24 city/30 hwy
		X-Pro Prestige 2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	23 city/26 hwy

Brakes and Stopping

The Rav4 stops much shorter than the Sportage:

	Rav4	Sportage
70 to 0 MPH	161 feet	182 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	117 feet	128 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	140 feet	151 feet	Consumer Reports

Suspension and Handling

The Rav4 4WD handles at .84 G’s, while the Sportage X-Pro Prestige pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Rav4 4WD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Sportage AWD (27.1 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 27.9 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Rav4 LE/XLE’s turning circle is 2.5 feet tighter than the Sportage’s (36.1 feet vs. 38.6 feet). The Rav4 XLE Premium/Limited’s turning circle is 1.2 feet tighter than the Sportage’s (37.4 feet vs. 38.6 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Rav4 LE/XLE has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Sportage (8.4 vs. 8.3 inches), allowing the Rav4 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Rav4 XLE Premium/Limited’s minimum ground clearance is .3 inch higher than on the Sportage (8.6 vs. 8.3 inches).

Chassis

The Rav4 is 3.5 inches shorter than the Sportage, making the Rav4 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

As tested by Car and Driver while cruising at 70 MPH, the interior of the Rav4 Limited 4WD is quieter than the Sportage X-Pro Prestige (66 vs. 68 dB).

Passenger Space

The Rav4 has .3 inches more front shoulder room, .1 inches more rear headroom and .8 inches more rear shoulder room than the Sportage.

Cargo Capacity

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Rav4. The Sportage doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Ergonomics

The Rav4’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Sportage’s standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically. With the Sportage EX/SX/Prestige/X-Line/X-Pro’s power windows, only the front windows open or close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the Rav4 the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Sportage can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

Consumer Reports rated the Rav4’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Sportage’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Rav4’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Sportage’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

Both the Rav4 and the Sportage offer available heated front seats. The Rav4 Limited also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Sportage.

Economic Advantages

According to iSeeCars.com the 2025 Toyota Rav4 retains 69.74% of its original value after 5 years, significantly more than the 52.85% resale value of the 2025 Kia Sportage after five years, which can save the Toyota’s owner up to $4674.466704 in depreciation.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Toyota Rav4 and the Kia Sportage, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Toyota Rav4 outsold the Kia Sportage by almost three to one during 2024.

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